Container carrier



Nov. 14, 1961 J.'VESAK CONTAINER CARRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 12, 1960 TTokpGys Nov. 14, 1961 J. VESAK CONTAINER CARRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. l2, 1960 United States Patent 3,008,605 CONTAINER CARRIER Joseph Vesak, Richmond, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Unipak Cartons Ltd., British Columbia, Canada Filed Aug. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 49,184 Claims priority, application Canada Sept. 28, 1959 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-105) This invention relates to cartons and more particularly to the type of carton incorporating a slidable handle retained within the carton but capable of upward and downward movement with respect thereto, said canton being suitable for transporting articles located in a plurality of adjacent article receiving compartments within the carton.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel type of interior assembly within the carton adapted to define said article receiving compartments and novel centering and load bearing means for the handle.

Accordingly, this invention relates to a carton having a wall structure comprising side and end walls and a bottom; an upper longitudinal partition and a lower longitudinal partition, said partitions extending along the entire longitudinal axis of the carton to define adjacent rows of article receiving compartments, said upper longitudinal partition being secured at either end thereof, to an adjacent end wall of the carton; a plurality of transverse partitions each connected at one end thereof to said lower longitudinal partition and adapted to divide each of said adjacent rows into a plurality of adjacent article receiving compartments; said lower longitudinal partition and said transverse partitions constituting a lower interior assembly fixed to said wall structure; a handle member associated with said upper longitudinal partition and con stituting therewith an upper interior assembly; said handle member being movably upwardly and downwardly with respect to said upper longitudinal partition; cooperating means on the latter and said handle member limiting the amount of upward movement of said handle member, said upper longitudinal partition thereby constituting a load bearing member when the carton is carried by said handle member; and cooperating means on said lower longitudinal partition and said handle member to limit the amount of downward movement of the latter.

A preferred form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an enclosed type of carton, with part of the casing or wall structure thereof broken away to show the interior construction;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the carton shown in FIGURE 1 with the top closure open, and showing the handle in its upper or carrying position;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the carton which is shown in a position part way between the flat or folded and erected position;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the carton with the top closure open ready to receive the articles;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1, showing the carton closed and the handle in its inner position;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 2, showing the carton open and the handle in its upper position;

FIGURE 8 is a fiat layout of the blank for the upper longitudinal partition; and

FIGURE 9 is a flat layout of the blank for the handle. Although the invention is described and illustrated as being applied to an enclosed type of carton, i.e. incorporating a top closure, it is obviously within the scope of ice the invention to omit such a top closure and apply the invention to an open-topped carton.

Referring to the drawings, .10 is a carton which includes a standard casing 12 having a wall structure comprising side walls 13 and 14, end walls 15 and 16, and a bottom 19. A top closure 20 is also provided. The top and bottom are similar in construction as is customary with cartons of this type. The top closure includes outer longitudinal side flaps 23 and 24 hingedly connected to the upper edges of side walls 13 and 14, and inner end flaps 26 and 27 connected to the upper edges of the end walls 15 and 16. When the top closure 20 is closed, the flaps thereof are glued or stapled together in the usual way. Top closure side flaps 23 and 24 when closed do not quite meet so that they leave a slot 29 in and extending longitudinally of the top closure 20. If desired, finger fi-aps 31 and 32 may be formed in and hingedly connected to top closure flaps 23 and 24 along opposite sides of slot 29.

A lower longitudinal partition 38 extends longitudinally and centrally of the carton near the bottom 19 thereof, said partition preferably being connected to the end walls 15 and 16. The lower longitudinal partition 38 has a lower edge 40 which may be at the carton bottom 19, or which may be spaced a little above said bottom, as shown in FIGURE 5. The lower longitudinal partition 38 extends upwardly in the carton part way towards the top thereof to an upper edge 41.

An upper longitudinal partition 45 extends longitudinally of the carton directly over lower longitudinal partition 38 and extends upwardly therefrom to or near the top closure 20. In the preferred construction, the upper longitudinal partition 45 extends upwardly to bear against the under surface of top closure end flaps 26 and 27 when the top closure is closed. The upper longitudinal partition 45 is in the form of a pair of parallel vertical complementary side panels 47 and 48 secured together along the upper edges thereof to form a common upper edge 49 for the upper longitudinal partition 45. It is preferred to make the upper longitudinal partition 45 from a single sheet of material 50, as illustrated in FIG- URE 8. This sheet is folded over along a central longitudinal crease line 51 to form the pair of side panels 47 and 48. A slot 53 is formed in the joined edges 51 of the panels '47, 48 spaced from the ends thereof and aligned with the slot 29 formed in the top closure. Slot 53 is preferably enlarged at 54 centrally thereof and on both sides of the crease line 51 of sheet 50.

The upper longitudinal partition 45 is secured to the casing end walls 15 and 16 in any convenient manner. This is preferably done by means of tabs 57 and 58 projecting from the opposite ends of side panel 47, and tabs 60 and 61 projecting from opposite ends of side panel 48. It will be noted that tabs 57 and 58 are located near the lower and upper edges respectively of panel 47, while tabs 60 and 61 are located respectively near the upper and lower edges of panel 48. With this arrangement, when tabs 57 and 58 are folded over to project laterally from the same side of receptacle 45, they are stapled relative to each other so that both bear against the inner surface of end wall 15, see FIGURE 1, to which they are attached by gluing, stapling or other means. Similarly, tabs 58 and 61 are staggered relative to each other when bent to project outwardly from the opposite side of the upper longitudinal partition 45, said latter tabs being secured to the inner surface of end wall 16 by gluing, stapling or other means.

The upper longitudinal partition 38 and the lower 1ongitudinal partition 45 combine to define adjacent rows 65 and 66 of article receiving compartments on opposite sides thereof extending from the top closure 20 to the bottom 19 of the carton.

At least one transverse partition 69 projects laterally from one side of the lower longitudinal partition 38, and at least one other transverse partition '70 projects laterally from the opposite side of said lower longitudinal partition. These transverse partitions divide the rows 65, 66 into a plurality of adjacent article receiving compartments. In the preferred form of the invention, there are a plurality of transverse partitions 69 and 70 which divide said rows 65, -66 into a plurality of adjacent article receiving compartments 72 and '73 On opposite sides of the longitudinal partitions. The outer ends of these transverse partitions are connected to adjacent side walls 13 and 14 of the carton.

Although the lower longitudinal partition 33 and transverse partitions 69 and 70 may be formed in any convenient manner, they are preferably formed as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 3 and 4. The lower longitudinal partition 38 and transverse partitions are integrally formed of a plurality of strips of foldable material 76 having a width equal to the desired height of the lower longitudinal partition 38 and transverse partitions. Each strip '76 comprises a central section 78 extending longitudinally of the casing to form the lower longitudinal partition 38, and transverse partition sections extending outwardly in opposite directions from opposite ends of said central section to form the transverse partitions 69' and 74). The ends of adjacent central sections 7 8 overlap, as indicated at 83-, and are secured together in any desired manner, such as by gluing, to form par-t of the lower longitudinal partition 38. Additional strips 85 and 86 are provided at each end of the lower longitudinal partition 38. These are similar to strips 76. These strips have, respectively, additional centre sections 85 and 89 and additional transverse partition sections 90 and 91 projecting outwardly from the inner edges thereof. The additional transverse partition sections 90 and 91 are parallel with the transverse partitions 69, 70, respectively. Strip 85 has a tab 93 extending outwardly from the opposite end thereof and in a direction opposite to that of transverse partition 90, said tab being secured to the inner surface of the end wall 15-, preferably by gluing. Similarly, strip 86 is formed with a tab 15 projecting outwardly from the outer end thereof on the opposite side of the lower longitudinal partition 38 from tab 93, and is secured to the inner surface of end wall 16, preferably by gluing. As the additional central sections 83 and 39 overlap and are secured to the adjacent central section 78 of one of the strips 76 which form the lower longitudinal partition 38, flaps 93 and 95 form the means for securing said partition 38 to the carton end walls. The ends of transverse partition sections 79 and 9% remote from the lower longitudinal partition 38 are bent over to "form tabs 98 that are secured to the inner surface of the carton side wall 13 by glue or the like. Similarly, the outer ends of transverse partition sections 80 and 91 are bent over to form tabs Q9 that are secured to the inner surface of the other carton side wall 14 by glue or the like. Thus, the lower longitudinal partition 33 and the transverse partition constitute a lower interior assembly fixed to the wall structure.

A handle member 165 is slidably positioned within the upper longitudinal partition 45 in line with slot 53. The handle body has shoulders 1il7 and 1% projecting outwar'dly from the ends thereof within the upper longitudinal partition 45 and beyond the adjacent ends of slot 53. The handle and its associated shoulders'have a lower edge 109 which engages the upper edge of the lower longitudinal partition 38 when the handle is in an inner position, as shown in FIGURES 1, 5 and'6. The handle is just long enough that at this time, it extends into slot 53 which means that its outer end is at or just below the topclosure when the latter is closed, as clearly shown in FIGURE 6'. Part of thehandle' is exposed at the top of the upper longitudinal partition 45 by enlargement 54 of slot 53, see FIGURES 1 and 5. Thus, the lower longitudinal partition 38 acts as a stop to limit the amount of downward movement of handle 105. When the handle is drawn outwardly relative to the carton, shoulders 10'] and 1&8 engage the folded-over underside of the common upper edge 49 of the upper longitudinal partition 45 to limit the amount of upward movement of the handle. Handle 165 is preferably formed with a hand-hole 112 therein adjacent its upper or outer end. Thus the upper longitudinal partition 45 and the handle member constitute an upper interior assembly.

FIGURE 9 illustrates a blank for forming handle 1495. This blank has a central section 11%, and transverse sections 113 and 11d extending across the ends of this central section. The blank is folded along the central crease line 116 to bring transverse sections 113' and 114 together to form the shoulders 107 and 10d of the handle. The folded-over central section 1.12 of the blank forms handle 1435 itself. This central section to the blank is formed with holes 118 and 119 therein which register to form the handle hole 112.

When this type of enclosed carton is manufactured, the top and bottom flaps remain aligned or in the same planes as their respective walls of the casing. At this time, the carton is in the form of a flat bundle in the usual manner. Pressure on the diagonally opposite corners 122 and 123 of FIGURE 3 swings the bundle into the carton as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The bottom flaps are closed and sealed in the usual manner, and the carton is ready to receive articles in the compartments 72 and '73. At this time, handle 105 is in its inner position within the upper longitudinal partition 45 and resting on the upper edge of the lower longitudinal partition 33. After loading, the top flaps 2324 and 26-27 are closed and sealed in the usual manner. At this time, handle 105 is completely within the carrier. if it is'desired to carry the carton finger flaps Hand 32 are pried upwardly or downwardly so that the upper edge of the handle may be gripped and the handle drawn upwardly to a position whereat shoulders 107-108 engage the folded-over upper edge of the upper longitudinal partition 15. The upper longitudinal partition 45 now takes the load, although it may be backed up by the closed top closure '20. At this time, no part of the load is taken by the lower longitudinal partition 38 and the transverse partitions 69 and 711. When the top closure is opened, the carton may still be carried by means of the handle since the upper longitudinal partition 45 now takes the full load.

I claim:

1. A carton having-a 'wall structure comprising side and end walls; an upper interior assembly within said carton, said upper assembly including a pair of spaced upper longitudinal partitions connected together along a common upper edge, each of said upper partitions extending along the central longitudinal axis of the carton to divide the upper portion of the interior thereof into a pair of adjacent article receiving compartments, each of said upper longitudinal partitions being secured, at each end thereof to an adjacent said end wall; a slot in said common upper edge; a handle member located between and slidably guided by said pair of spaced upper longitudinal partitions and having a portion thereof extending through said slot, said handle member being movable between a first retracted postion in which said handle member is located within said wall structure to a second operative position where said portion of said handle member is projected above said wall structure for carrying purposes; said upper longitudinal partitions thereby constituting a load-bearing member when the carton is carried by said handle member; first cooperating means on said upper assembly and said handle member to limit the amount of upward movement of the latter; a lower interior assembly within said carton and located beneath. said upper assembly, said lower assembly comprising a plurality of members; certain of said members each being constituted y, a primary panel portion, a tab extending at right angles to said primary panel portion and integrally and hingeably connected to one end thereof, said tab being secured to an adjacent said side wall, a secondary panel portion integrally and hingedly connected to the remaining end of said primary panel portion and extending at right angles thereto, and a tab extending at right angles to said secondary panel portion and integrally and hingedly connected to the other end thereof, said tab being secured to an adjacent said end 'wall; at least one remaining member, intermediate said certain members, said remaining member being constituted by a pair of primary panel portions, one end of each of said primary panel portions being integrally and hingedly connected to an associated tab extending at right angles therefrom and secured to an adjacent said side wall, and a secondary panel portion integrally and hingedly connected to the remaining ends of said pair of primary panel portions and at right angles thereto; a predetermined portion of the length of said secondary panels of each of said certain members being secured to a predetermined portion of the length of said secondary panel of said remaining member; said primary panels serving as a plurality of lower transverse partitions and said connected secondary panels serving as a lower longitudinal partition, said lower partitions thereby dividing the lower portion of the interior of the carton into a plurality of adjacent article receiving compartments; the upper and lower edges of said lower partitions extending parallel to said bottom throughout their length so as to present uninterrupted partition surfaces, and said secured predetermined portions of said secondary panels serving as lower longitudinal partition reinforcements; and second cooperating means on said lower assembly and said handle member to limit the amount of downward movement of the latter.

2. A carton according to claim 1 wherein the first cooperating means includes a pair of shoulders on said handle member adapted to cooperate with the underside of said common upper edge, and wherein said second cooperating means includes a lower edge on said handle member adapted to abut said lower longitudinal partition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 145,137 Wade Dec. 2, 1873 289,010 Lynam Nov. 27, 1883 2,609,137 Toensmeier Sept. 2, 1952 2,727,653 Pasjack Dec. 20, 1955 2,850,206 Pasj-ack Sept. 2, 1958 2,900,106 Vesak Aug. 18, 1959 2,943,762 Richardson July 5, 1960 

